By Paul Crute

Last updated at 11:33, Monday, 13 August 2012

A star rider with the Workington Comets speedway team suffered an agonising injury in a dramatic crash which was seen by hundreds of spectators on Saturday.

Kenny Ingalls

American Kenny Ingalls in likely to be out of action for the rest of the season after suffering a broken back and a broken arm.

The injury came shortly after 8pm on Saturday in heat nine of Comets 52-38 victory over Scunthorpe.

“He came off his bike and slid into the fence and then was hit by another rider after be bounced off the fence,” said John Walsh, a freelance sports journalist who was among the several hundred spectators.

“It was a horrific crash,” he added. “He was clearly in a lot of pain from the arm injury and was given pain killers while he was on the track.”

The accident delayed the racing at the stadium for about an hour as Ingalls was given emergency treatment. He was then taken to hospital by ambulance.

It emerged yesterday that the Californian rider broke his left arm in two places which has got plated and he also suffered two broken vertebrae.

Comets owner Keith Denham said the crash was one of the worst he has ever seen.

“It was a shocking and terrible injury,” he said. “Kenny will be out for the rest of the season. Josh Auty hit him and at one time he was struggling to breathe.

“We will need to find out the extent of his injuries and we will be using rider replacement for the next few matches but we cannot carry on like that long-term.

“We have been looking for riders since Kyle got injured but we need to get the right fit.”

The accident has come only two weeks after Comets lost Kyle Howarth for the rest of the season after he broke his wrist and a bone in his back.

It leaves the side with only five of their own team for tonight’s match with Rye House. It means they will use rider replacement for Ingalls and Jan Graversen will guest for Howarth.

Despite the injury to Ingalls, Denham praised the professionalism of the team to carry on with the meeting and secure the three points.

It meant Workington took five points from the two weekend matches but Denham felt it could have been more after they surrendered a four point lead with a heat to go at Plymouth on Friday night.

He said: “It was a good meeting on Saturday up until the injury and it was terrific performance as a lot of people said we would lose.”

First published at 11:26, Monday, 13 August 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk